With 2001 all but over, thoughts have turned towards preparations and plans for the new racing season. Ciarβn Power, who last week signed a contract to ride with the American Navigators team, is due to travel to New Jersey around February 10th before taking part in their 10-day training camp in Arizona.

Power's 2002 racing debut is likely to be in a series of events in California in early March, although the team are considering taking part in a small three-stage race in Arizona during the time of their training camp. The Redlands and Sea Otter stage races at the end of March will hone fitness before the squad travel to contest some European events.

Meanwhile Ireland's other second-division professional David McCann is continuing his build-up for the new season at home in Belfast. McCann's Ceresit-Henkel team will hold a three-week training camp in Majorca at the end of January, and the double Irish champion will be in attendance.

Ceresit's racing programme has yet to be finalised, but McCann is hoping to perform well in world-ranked races, with the Commonwealth Games in Manchester high on his list of priorities for the season.

Mark Scanlon will once again line out in the colours of the amateur side VC La Pomme in 2002, with Tommy Evans and Denis Lynch also due to race with the French squad. However the Team Ireland initiative is moving from this area, with Belgium the most likely destination.